Kilmacurragh Botanic Garden in Ireland

On a short trip to Ireland, I was lucky enough to visit the National Botanic Garden at Kilmacurragh, where the head gardener kindly gave me a guided tour of some of the highlights. It is one of Ireland’s most important gardens, well known for its collection of mature and unusual trees, its wildflower meadow, and its extensive herbaceous borders.

At the centre of the garden stands Kilmacurragh House, which suffered a major fire in 1976 that destroyed the entire interior. The house has remained derelict ever since, although over the years there have been various efforts to raise funds for its repair. The ruins sit within the grounds of the National Botanic Gardens at Kilmacurragh, which are the sister gardens to the National Botanic Gardens at Glasnevin in Dublin.

It was a beautiful, calm and sunny day and, although it was very sad to see the house in such a derelict state, the gardener explained that they were now much closer to securing the funding needed for its restoration. He spoke with great enthusiasm about the plans for the future, describing how the layout of the house would be arranged, and in particular his own office, which you could tell was something very close to his heart.

To the front of the house stands one of the icons of Kilmacurragh, a remarkable specimen of Cryptomeria japonica, often described as a living fossil. Around 150 years old, it spreads an extraordinary 30 metres across while reaching only about 6 metres in height. We were kindly allowed to step inside this extraordinary and historic tree, and the experience felt almost otherworldly and surreal.

Closer to the house, the gardeners have created a wildflower meadow inspired by the traditional hay meadows of the past. The head gardener spoke with great pride about this project, which began in 2007. He explained that the key to its success has been the introduction of Rhinanthus minor (yellow rattle), a plant that can reduce grass growth by up to 60%, allowing more delicate and unusual species to thrive.

At the time of our visit, more than 130 species had been recorded, including Dactylorhiza maculata subsp. ericetorum (heath spotted orchid) and Lotus corniculatus (bird’s-foot trefoil), which is the larval food plant of the common blue butterfly.

The gardener explained that this whole area was once regularly mown, and it has taken many years to establish the more traditional meadow that exists today. He was keen to point out that this is not a pictorial meadow, which is usually created from curated mixes of wildflower seeds. Instead, it is a natural grass meadow, much closer to what would have been seen in the past — a reminder of landscapes before the widespread use of fertilisers and herbicides.

We continued walking through the meadows until we reached the Broad Walk. This style of garden walk became popular in the 1840s following the creation of the Great Broad Walk at Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, designed by the renowned landscape architect William Nesfield, who also designed the Rose Garden at Rode Hall, which I mentioned in one of my other posts.

Kilmacurragh’s Broad Walk was laid out in the 1850s by Thomas Acton and his sister Janet. It was designed with enough width for two Victorian ladies, wearing wide, flowing crinoline dresses, to promenade side by side. The walk is lined with alternating Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata' (Irish yew) and Rhododendron 'Highclere' (R. altaclarense), creating a striking and formal avenue.

There were some stunning plants and combinations in the herbaceous borders, although there wasn’t enough time to explore them fully. I was particularly taken by the striking pairing of purple Symphyotrichum asters with Triteleia laxa, also known as triplet lily, which created a truly spectacular combination.

We walked away from the house and down an avenue of Rhododendron arboreum and Irish yews (Taxus baccata ‘fastigiata’) where we found ourselves surrounded by glades of southern conifers and many other rhododendron species.

As we continued, the gardener led us past a large wooden door that opened into his own personal gardening space within the great estate. He was reluctantly persuaded to let us take a look inside, where several beds were growing all types of fruit and vegetables.

It was a lovely moment, as he seemed both embarrassed and proud at the same time, joking that he would have tidied up if he had known we were going to look. This memory stands out clearly in my mind from that wonderful day. Despite all the magnificence of Kilmacurragh Botanic Gardens, this small personal garden held just as much significance in that place.

I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Seamus O’Brien, the head gardener of Kilmacurragh Botanic Gardens. Widely respected as one of Ireland’s leading horticulturists, he devoted his life to plants, conservation, and the restoration of these remarkable gardens. Remembering the small, personal moment we shared that day now feels even more meaningful, and it remains a lasting reminder of the passion and care he brought to Kilmacurragh and to Irish horticulture as a whole

Garden Writer | Guineveres Garden